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BBC Channel 4 installs giant structure equipped with screens
Six weather-resistant screens were unveiled as part of BBC Channel 4's Big Art Project outside the channel's headquarters in London.
April 29, 2008
LONDON — To celebrate both the Channe 4's (BBC London) 25th anniversary year and the launch of the Big Art Project, a 50-foot-high metal "4" was constructed for the steps of the channel's headquarters and was unveiled by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge. The 4 was equipped with six digital screens for messaging and branding.The towering installation mirrors the channel's on-air identity, with metal bars forming the instantly recognizable logo when viewed from a particular angle. Over the 12 months of the channel's anniversary year, four different artists will have customised the Big 4.
The first adaptation of the work, entitled Heart, was by British artist/photographer Nick Knight, with sound design by Nick Ryan. The current adaptation by Mark Titchner, Find Our World in Yours Find Your World in Ours, allows the public to record their own thoughts and feelings about the media, and edited footage is played back on digital screens mounted on the structure. In this case, the artist uses six AQUiVO outdoor screens to enhance the interactivity of the sculpture.
Architecture and Design Agency FreeState is working with each commissioned artist to bring their designs to life.
"We work closely with artists on their initial design concept to find the most appropriate solutions; from conception right through to the delivery, to the onsite management and maintenance of the installation," said Adam Scott, design director at FreeState. "As the screens for Mark Titchner's installation were going to be displayed externally on the structure, we needed to ensure that they would be robust enough to endure such an environment for three months."
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A side view of the giant 4. |
Channel 4 then edits the footage on a weekly basis, relaying the content onto the screens for public viewing.
"The video booth gives viewers a voice, a platform on which to express their ideas, thoughts, hopes, concerns; a chance to express their feelings about what they see and experience," said Mark Titchner. "The editing process is also important. It is integral to the project and reminds us that the standards that protect us also moderate our responses."
This rental project is one of the first for PSCo's range of AQUiVO outdoor screens, which launched last year. The robust screens feature a toughened glass front and anti-reflective surface which make them perfect for temporary or permanent outdoor installations.
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